UNSC meets on North Korea's satellite launch

United Nations, April 13 (IANS) The UN Security Council Friday started an emergency closed-door session on how to respond to the satellite launch by North Korea.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday urged North Korea not to undertake any further provocative actions that would heighten tension in the region, Xinhua reported citing a statement issued by his spokesman.

The 90-tonne Unha-3 rocket was launched at 7.39 a.m. from the Tongchang-ri launch site but broke into some 20 pieces and fell into the sea a few minutes after lift-off, according to the South Korean defence ministry.

"Despite its failure, the launch of a so-called 'application satellite' by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) on 13 April 2012 is deplorable, as it defies the firm and unanimous stance of the international community," the statement said.

"The launch is in direct violation of Security Council Resolution 1874 and threatens regional stability," it said.

Pyongyang confirmed an earth observation satellite was launched Friday morning but it failed to enter orbit.

The rocket was launched to mark the 100th birthday of late founder Kim Il Sung.

South Korea and the US said it was a disguised long-range ballistic missile test that violated a UN Security Council resolution.

US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice earlier said: "It is clear that any launch by North Korea using ballistic missile technology, which is what it is, will be a blatant violation of Security Council resolution 1718 and 1874."